Crown block for a hoisting apparatus for a derrick and means for reeving a compound pulley



Jan. 19, 1937.

8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1930 AND MEANS FOR REEVING A COMPOUNDPULLEY H. T. NICHOLS CROWN BLOCK FOR A HOISTING APPARATUS FOR A DERRICKvINVENTOR. Harry E/maye Mc/fo/s.

A TTORNEYS.

J 1937. H. T. NICHOLS 7 ,0 9 I CROWN BLOCK-FOR A HOISTING APPARATUS FORA Dal RICK AND MEANS FOR REEVING A COMPOUND PULL-BY Filed Sept. 15, 19308 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. lief/y Er/mqy Alida/5 BY ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 19, 1937. H. T. NICHOLS CROWNBLOCK FOR A HOISTINGAPBARATI JS FOR ADERRICK AND MEANS FOR REEVING A COMPOUND PULLEY Filed Sept. 15, 1930 8Sheets-Sheet 3 Arfolwzm Jan. 19, 1937. H. 'T. NICHOLS 2,067,942

CROWN BLOCK FOR'A HOISTING APPARATUS FOR A DERRICK AND MEANS FOR REEVINGA COMPOUND PULLEY Filed Sept 15, 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENIOR. flarry7Z7/mq9e M0706.

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 19, 1937. H. T. NICHOLS 2,067,942 CROWN BLOCK FOR A HOISTINGAPPARATUS FOR A DERRICK AND MEANS FOR REEVING A COMPOUND PULLEY 8Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. flJrryE/maga /V/'c/90/5.

Filed Sept. 15, 1930 A'QTORNEYS;

Jan. 19, 1937. H T. NICHOLS CROWN BLOCK FOR A I-iOISTING APPARATUS FOR ADERRICK AND MEANS FOR REEVING A COMPOUND PULLEY Filed Sept. 15, 1930 8Shgets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. Harry E/mqye Mcfiols A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 19, 1937. H. 'r. NICHOLS v 2,067,942

CROWN BLOCK FOR A HOISTING APPARATUS FOR A DERRICK AND MEANS FORRE'EVING' A COMPOUND PULLEY Filed Sept. 15, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 4LmeMID-CQNTI NENT 6 LINE MIDCONTINENT' I N VEN TOR. Hair/7 7J7/I/76Zy6lV/cfio/s. BY; Q 3 6 a ATTORNEYS.

Draw Works 5- Ml 51/2 a 64/ W/me/ in Crane, Pasf Corner Bed/n 6 2.5 4LINE LEFT HAND RIG MID'CONTINENT W24 IO LINE M10 CONTINENT Patented Jan.19, 1937 UNITED STATES CROWN BLOCK FOR A HOISTING APPARA- TUS FOR ADERRICK AND MEANS FOR- REEVING A COMPOUND PULLEY Harry Talmage Nichols,San Antonio, Tex.

Application September 15, 1930, Serial No. 481,935

Renewed June 3, 1935 102 Claims.

My invention relates to a crown block for 'a hoisting apparatus for aderrick and means for reeving a compound pulley therein. It has to do,particularly, with a compound pulley especially adapted for use inconnection with the drilling of wells although it is not necessarilylimited thereto.

In the past the use of compound pulleys embodying fixed or standingblock units, and running or traveling block units, with a multiplicityof parts or plies of a hoisting line roveto the sheaves thereof has beensubject to certain serious disadvantages, partly due to the manner ofmounting the sheaves thereof with relation to each other and partly dueto the method of reeving the hoisting line therethrough. One of thesedisadvantages has been the -inability to obtain a balanced arrangementefiective to ensure that the traveling block will not tilt duringoperation.

This tilting tendency is scarcely noticeable in a two-sheave travelingblock, due to the proportionate rotational speed of the sheaves of twoto one with four running parts rove and the standing part secured otherthan on the tackle block, and of five to three with five parts roveincluding the standing part secured to the tackle block, inherent whenthe block is rove with the parts ,of a line in direct-sequence and isoperated-by a pulling force applied to the fall part of the line.

In a three-sheave traveling block, however, when rove with the parts ofa line in direct sequence from one outer sheave to an intermediatesheave and thence to the other outer sheave, and operated by a pullingforce applied to the fall part of the line, this tilting tendency isdistinctly operative and correspondingly disadvantageous, due to thegreater divergence in the proportionate rotational speed of the outersheaves. I

This disadvantage, which is cumulative in proportion to the number ofsheaves thus rove, has, in all apparatus comprising more than twosheaves in the traveling block and which has been adaptable to andhitherto utilized in well drilling practice, resulted in seriouslyretarding and interfering with the speed of drilling operationsi' Duringcertain phases of the drilling operations the traveling block is raisedfrom a position adjacent to the floor of the derrick to a positionadjacent to the top thereof without a load, and,

conversely, during otherphases of the operations it is lowered from thetop of the derrick without a load.

It is when the traveling block is operated without a load, andparticularly when it is being lowcred without a load, that thisdisadvantage is most acutely experienced, it being necessary to restrictthe speed of operation in order. to prevent the traveling block fromexcessive swaying and even from capsizing and fouling the parts of thehoisting line extending from its sheaves.

Efiorts to correct this tilting tendency in the traveling blocks ofapparatus hitherto utilized in drilling practice, by first reeving theouter sheaves of the traveling block, have resulted in the crossing ofthe parts of the line in such a manner as to set up a destructivechafing between the parts rove and in producing a fleeting angle betweenthe rope grooves of the sheaves and the parts of the line extendingtherefrom destructive to both.

Another disadvantage is that in all compound pulley structures andmethods of reeving heretofore utilized for the reeving of more than fourrunning parts, the traveling block could not be made to hang in thecenter of the well, except when all of the compound pulley sheavemembers of both the crown and traveling block were fully rove, withoutresorting to shifting of the position of the crown block with respect tothe center of the well, so as to unfairly load the derrick.

A further disadvantage has arisen from the fact that the structures andmethods previously used result in excessive side diversion of the linefrom the rope grooves of the majority or all of the compound pulleysheaves.

Another disadvantage has arisen from the fact that the structures andmethods of reeving previously utilized have of necessity, limited thediameter of some of the compound pulley sheaves, either in the crownblock or traveling block or in both, and thereby caused excessivebending stresses in the hoisting line which are particularly productiveof excessive wear and tear upon the wire rope which is ordinarily usedfor this line.

Other disadvantages have been present in prior art structures, as willappear as this description progresses.

One of the objects ofthis invention is to provide a crown block for ahoisting apparatus embodying a compound pulley ofsuch structure and sorove that a maximum balanced effect will be produced, so that tilting ofthe traveling block will be reduced to a minimum, and. so that the Qsaidtilting tendency in a traveling block having three or more sheaves, whenoperated by a pulling force applied to one end of a single line,. is notsubstantially greater than the tilting tendency inherent in a two-sheavetraveling block when so operated, irrespective of the number of sheaves,in excess of two, rove and operated.

Although hoisting apparatus has heretofore been utilized in industriesother than oil well drilling in which the traveling block waseflectively balanced, and in which the fleeting angle of the parts ofthe flexible element rove, such as fiber ropes, chains, and wirehoisting cables, with respect to the sheaves from which they extend waseffectively eliminated, and undue wear and tear on the element rove wasabsent, all such apparatus hitherto utilized lacked the requisitecombination of factors in their structure and method of reeving whichwould permit them to be adapted to, and incorporated into, well drillingpractice, as developed during the evolution thereof to its presentstatus.

For instance, apparatus'and methods of reeving heretofore utilized, inwhich the factor of fleeting angle was not harmfully prevalent and inwhich the traveling block was effectively balanced, contemplated andprovided means only adaptable to be fully rove.

This is very undesirable in hoisting apparatus for use in well drilling,since, at the outset of the drilling operations, the load to be hoistedis relatively light, and speed of operation of the apparatus by reevinga minimum number of parts of the line between the crown block and thetraveling block is the objective sought.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure and method ofreeving whereby a minimum of four running parts of the line may be roveand the apparatus operated with the traveling block effectively balancedand with all of the parts then rove extending from the sheaves insubstantial parallelism with the grooves thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure and method ofreeving in which it is feasible and convenient to progressively reevethe apparatus as required in the progress of the drilling operation byadding other parts to the minimum of the parts which serve to initiallyreeve and balance the traveling block.

Still another objection to all previously known and utilized structuresand methods of reeving in hoisting apparatus, in which the travelingblock operated in an effectively balanced condition and in which theflexible element rove between the fixed block and the traveling blockextended from thesheaves in substantially parallel relation with respectto the grooves thereof, and aserious objection, is that the flexibleelement was either endless. and, therefore, inadaptable to well drillingpractice, or the ends could not be fair led off from over sheaves in thefixed block (equivalent to the crown block) to winding drum means and toanchorage means as disposed in the various conditions existent in welldrilling outfits.

These anchor means are sometimes disposed on b intermediate number ofparts of the line of more than four-and less than the capacity of thecompound pulley sheaves of the blocks, or fully rove, the ends of thehoisting line may always be fair led off from over sheaves in the crownblock to the respective hoisting drums and anchorages below,

the traveling block will always be effectively balanced and will alwaysoperate in the same predetermined vertical path, and a majority or allof the constructions and methods of reeving heretofore utilized issubstantially identicalwith the exposition of the same subject in myco-pending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No.215,059, filed August 24, 1927, of which this present application is acontinuation in part, and applies to all devices known and utilizedbefore the invention which is the subject of my said application, thegeneral objects of the present invention being substantially identicalwith the general objects of the invention covered by thesaidapplication,

However, in conforming to the principles ofv that invention, I resortedto pivotally mounted sheaves in one or the other of the blocks of theapparatus in order to provide a structure in which the majority or allof the compound pulley sheave members in both the crown block and thetraveling block might be of relatively large diameter and in order toutilize my method of reeving in such a manner as to effectively balancethe traveling block, to obviate excessive fleeting angle, or sidediversion, of the. running parts of the hoisting line between the blocksrelative to 'the grooves of the sheaves from which they extend, and inorder to fair lead the standing part and fall part of the hoisting lineoff from over compound pulley sheaves in the crown block to windingdrums and anchorage 'means as disposed in practice in well drillingrigs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extremely simplifiedhoisting apparatus of such structure and so rove that it will befeasible to have all of the compound pulley sheave members of largediameter in both the crown block and traveling block, while at the sametime providing means whereby a traveling block having more than twosheaves may be balanced and centered under all conditions of operationand regardless of the number of plies rove, which has hitherto beenimpossible in the art, without resorting to a structure embodyingpivoted sheaves in the apparatus.

Although, throughout the accompanying drawings, I have shown a travelingblock with sheaves substantially smaller than those shown in the crownblock, it will be obvious that the invention lends itself, withoutstructural change or re-arrangement, to the utilization of sheaves inthe traveling block equal in diameter to the parallel sheave members ofthe crown block.

In this connection, an important consideration with reference to thispresent invention, from an economic standpoint, is that it permits theutilization of sheaves of different diameters in the traveling bloclr;and, consequently, enables the securing of the ultimate in service frompartly used traveling blocks having relatively small sheaves and, whensuch blocks'are discarded, enables the utilization of new travelingblocks having sheaves of large diameter..

Other objects of this invention will appear as this descriptionprogresses. I In order to clarify and qualify the meaning of some of theterms employed,.which are believed to be peculiar to well drillingpractice, it is desired to here define the sense of dead line andrunning part as applied herein to the compound pulley hoisting line.

In the original American standard cable-drilling rig, after theintroduction of sheaves in the crown block thereof intended especiallyas compound pullcy sheaves, commonly known in well practice as thecasing sheaves, the standing part of the compound pulley hoisting linewas usually and generally led off from over a compound pulley sheave inthe crown block and secured to the travelingblock, and the .end of thepart so secured was known as the dead end.

When so secured, the standing part passes through the groove of but onerotating sheave, i. e. through the groove of and over a sheave in thecompound pulley sheave assembly in the crown block; however, all lineparts move in either an up or down direction.

In the later American hydraulic rotary-drilling rig, the dead end wassecured sometimes as in the practice in the standard cable-drilling rig;

and again, sometimes, the dead end was led off from over a compoundpulley sheave in the crown block and instead of being secured to thetraveling block structure, was anchored to a base sill of thewellderrick structure, or otherwise secured independently of the travelingblock. Still later, with the advent of the combination standardcable-drilling-hydraulic rotary-drilling rig, the respective ends of thesingle hoisting line employed in the operation of compound pulleys asutilized in well practice were each secured to individual winding drums,so that one of said drums could preferably be used during the operationof the hydraulic rotary-drilling rig, while the other drum, in anemergency, could be employed; particularlyfto prevent the loss of "thedrill stem of the rotary-drilling rig by sticking or freezing in thewellduring an en forced period of vertical immobility.

Under the last two specifically cited practices in well drilling a novelcondition is produced:

The line part which extends ofi from over a sheave in the crown blockand is the farthest line part extending between sheaves of therespective blocks from the fall part does not move per se in an up anddown direction, but is taken up and shortened, and, conversely, is letout and lengthened from under a traveling block sheave, and is,-therefore, throughout its extension between the crown and travelingblock, stationary.

This line part is, for this reason, in well-practice called the deadline, and is in reality an extension of the standing part. I However,since this so-called dead line extends between a sheave in the standingblock and a sheave in the running block it is, in the light ofestablished erms, a ,riiii'ning part, and is so referred to hereinthroughout.

To further clarify, it will here be noted that in the description tofollow the reference numerals applied to the running parts of thehoistened line will in their numerical order indicate the naturalsequence of the reeving'which naturally and logically is counted fromthe end of the hoisting line which is not freed from drum or anchoragemeans when changing the number of running parts or plies employed, suchas reeving additional running parts or for unreeving some of the runningparts to reduce the number employed. The terms parts and plies are usedsynonomously herein throughout.

In other words, the traveling block is, in effect,

suspended from points on the peripheries of two of the parallel compoundpulley standing block sheave members, and from opposed peripheral pointson complemental compound pulley sheave means disposed in fixed obliquelytransverse relation to the first said sheaves so ning parts of thehoisting line rove in direct sequence from an end thereof, which aresubstantially perpendicular to the axes of the sheaves from which theyextend.

The result of this is that, whenever during the progress of the drillingoperation it becomes necessary to reeve additional running parts of theline to the compound pulley sheave .members, these additional plies willbe rove to the intermediate sheaves of the traveling block and will, innowise, interfere with either the balanced effect, or the centeredposition of the traveling block originally created by my describedmethod of reeving four runningparts of the hoisting line from an endthereof to produce the said loops.

The compound pulley elements which I utilize in the preferredapplication of my method com prise a crown block with a plurality ofcompound pulley sheave memberstherein and a traveling block' having morethan two sheaves suspended.

there-beneath by a single hoisting line rove with a multiplicity ofrunning parts between the said sheaves of the crown block and thesheaves of "the traveling block.

Preferably, the crown block comprises a plurality of compound pulleysheave members of more than two in number and arranged in verticalplanes in parallelsm to each other.

This crownblock also preferably comprises a single compound pulleysheave member with a rigidly fixed mounting, which sheave member isdisposed in a vertical plane obliquely crosswise of the said pluralityof parallel sheaves in the crown block and in cooperative. relationthereto.

This sheave is preferably located above the said plurality of parallelcompound pulley sheave members.

Likewise, this oblique sheave is preferably so positioned that itsvertical center is in a direct vertical line above the central verticalaxis of the said plurality of parallel sheaves of the crown block and ofthe central vertical axis of the travbers of the crown block and theirsupporting' means, as well as with the standard cable-drilling rigsheave means and the supporting means therefor, when these lattersheaves are utilized.

Likewise, the location of this oblique sheavemember is preferably suchthat the two running parts which extend downwardly therefromare at equaldistances from a vertical line passing through the central vertical axisof the traveling block. In conjunction with the described compoundpulley sheave assembly in the crown block structure, I preferably use atraveling block which comprises outer sheaves and one or moreintermediate sheave members disposed in parallelism with each other,'andalso disposed in substantial parallelism with the plurality of parallelcompound pulley sheave members of the crown block.

With this structure of crown block and traveling block, I preferablyreeve my compound pulley sheaves in such a way that the first four run-'distances from the central vertical axis of they traveling blockthroughout their length as the plies in the other two diagonallyopposite corners of the traveling block, the ply in each corner of thetraveling block is spaced substantially the same distance throughout itslength from the central vertical axis of the traveling block as the plyin the corner diagonally opposite it.

The result is that one pair of diagonally opposite plies is balancedagainst the other pair of diagonally opposite plies and that a balancedand centered traveling block is produced by the initial reeving of thefirst four running parts from an end of the line.

' When this condition is produced,- reeving of additional running partsto the compound pulley sheave members of the crown block'andtravelsuchthat the traveling block is not only bal ncedand centered asindicated above but the compound pulley sheave members of the crownblock and of the traveling block are so disposed with relation to-eachother that the majority or all the plies or parts ofthe hoisting'llneare in substantial parallelism with the sheave grooves from vwhich theyextend, and the majority or all of these plies or parts are maintainedin a substantially perpendicular relation to the axes of the saidsheaves.

This results in a hoisting apparatus wherein the traveling block isbalanced and is centered under all conditions of operation withoutshifting the crown block, while the fleeting angle of the parts of theline with respect to the majority or all of the sheaves from which theyextend is,

such as to entirely obviate'excessive side diversion and, consequently,wear upon the grooves of centers the traveling block.

r the sheaves and on the-line rove is reduced to a minimum.

My invention is particularly important in connection with operationswherein at the beginning it is desirable to initially reeve a minimum offour running parts of the hoisting line to the com pound pulley sheavesand to later during the operations add other running parts to the fourinitially rove, such as well drilling operations.

one or more sheaves in the plurality of parallel sheaves thereofadditionally of the two which 7 are utilized in combination with thefixed obliquely disposed sheave member thereof to accomplish the initialreeving which balances and In conjunction with this compound pulleysheave assembly in a crown block which has more than two parallel sheavemembers in combination with sheave means obliquely crosswise of them, Ipreferably use a traveling block having more than two sheaves suitablymounted to form a symmetrical structure and having pin means .to supporta becket on the lower end thereof. Y

The position of the traveling block when operatively rove is preferablysuch that all of the sheave members thereof are in parallelism with theplurality of parallel compound pulley sheave members of the crown block,and the oblique sheave means of the crown block is disposed in the sameobliquely transverse relation to the sheave members of 'the travelingblock as to the 'parallel compound pulley sheave members of the crownblock.

Another aspect of my invention consists in the fact that thecompoundpulley standing block unit and the supporting structure therefor in mynovel crown block is so constructed that it .may at will and with thegreatest ease, using the same vertical spacing means, be assembled toconform to either the practice of arranging a combination standardcable-drilling hydraulic rotary-drilling rig with winding drums and an.-chorage means (or-points) to receive the end of the fall part and theend of the standing part of theline of the compound pulley hoisting ap--'paratus on adjacent .sides of the base of the derrick structure, or tothe practice of arranging said winding drums and anchorage means onopposite sides of. said base. 7

In order to facilitate the fair leading of the fall part and thestanding part of the rope oif from over compound pulley sheaves in thecrown 1 block, to winding drum means and anchor means below, I may, 'ifdesired, provide an idler-pulley as a supplement to my novel compoundpulley standing block unit in the crown block.

, A stillfu'rther feature of my invention conable means for verticallyspacing and support: ing the compound pulley sheave members of the crownblock a'ndtheir supporting means per se a substantial distance above thelevel of the water-table beams of the derrick, which means is of such astructure that a substantially increased amount of head-room for theoperation of the traveling block "is provided while, at the same time,IIam enabled, whenever it is desirable, to utilize the conventionalstandard cable-drilling rig simple pulley rope sheaves which may, atwill, be introduced into the space thus created between the lowerextremities of the compound pulley sheave assembly of the crown blockand sists of the provision of adjustable and detachthe tops of the watertable beams of the derrick or removed therefrom independently of thevertical spacing means, and the supporting means per se of the firstnamed sheaves, includ-- ing the idler fair leader pulley and itssupporting means.

These standard cable-drilling sheaves, as is well known in, the art,comprise a drilling line sheave over which the drilling line carryingthe percussion drilling tools of the standard cabledrilling rigoperates, the actuating winding'drum being known as the bull wheels inthis rig.

This drilling line sheave of the standard cabledrilling rig is referredto by several different names, such as the crown sheave, the drillingsheave, the spudding sheave and the derrick pulley.

The standard cable-drilling rig sheaves also.

comprise a sand sheave over which the sand line of the rig operates.

Normally, in the operation of the standard cable-drilling rig, a bailer,orsand pump, for the removal of the cuttings and mud accumulating in thewell during the drilling operation, is attached to one end of the sandline, while the other end thereof is attached to the sand reel of therig, which is a winding drum for the actuation of this line.

These standard cable-drilling rig sheaves, which are merely simplepulleys, are disposed so that their peripheral grooves are adjacent to,or coincident with, the central plane of the well derrick between theladder and forge sides thereof, and they are conventionally mountedbetweenthe same pair of beams which are usually and normally disposeddirectly on the water table beams of the derrick.

Moreover, these standard cable-drilling rig sheaves are disposedradially of a central point which is adjacent to, or coincident with,the

central vertical axis of the derrick so that line parts leading off frompoints on their grooved peripheries lead fairly into the well bore, andthat other line parts leading off from points on their groovedperipheries diametrically opposed to the first said points, extend inthe case of the drilling line, downwardly inside the derrick structureto the shaft of the bull wheels upon which it is wound, while the sandline extends downwardly outside the derrick on the walking beam sidethereof to the sand reel upon which it is spooled.

Sometimes, the sand line is freed from the bailer and utilized forrelatively light, miscellaneous hoisting duty, while, in theorganization of the work in some combination drilling rigs, the drillingline sheave is utilized for the cat line of the rotary drilling rig.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoisting apparatus embodying mynovel compound pulley and method of reeving applied with verticalspacing apparatus to a typical right hand steel oil well derrick whereinthe calf wheel and rotary draw works are located on opposite sides ofthe derrick.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hoisting apparatus embodying mynovel compound pulley and method of reeving applied with verticalspacing apparatus to a typical right hand :Jsteel oil well derrickwherein the calf wheel and rotary draw works are on adjacent sides ofthe derrick.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a typicalsteel oil well derrick with my novel crown block structure, embodying mynovel compound pulley standing block unit and vertical spacing apparatustherefor, together with my novelly supported standard cable-drilling rigsheaves installed at the conv-entional level, mounted thereon to conformto the well drilling rig practice wherein the ends cf the compoundpulley hoistingline lead downwardly oif from over sheaves in the crownblock to points on the opposite sides of the derrick base.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of my novel standard cable-drilling rigsheave supporting means which is designed to be removably applied to thestructure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail, in perspective, illustrating the structure of theleg members for supporting the oblique sheave member of the compoundpulley unit of the crown block and the means for bracing the said legsfrom the parallel compound pulley sheave assernbly structure.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 3, withparts broken away.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figures 3 and 6and looking from the right of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of my crown block structure with theoblique sheave removed and showing the parallel sheaves of the compoundpulley unit of the crown block and the novelly supported standardcable-drilling rig sheaves.

Figure 9 is a detail, in perspective, illustrating the disassembledparts of one of the means which I have utilized to render possible thepivotal swinging of the base beam members of the vertical spacingapparatus, which supports struts to ultimately support the compoundpulley standing block unit of the crown block above the level of thewater table beams of a derrick.

Figure 10 is a detail in side elevation of the structure shown in Figure9.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the top of a typical steel oil wellderrick which terminates in a pair of water table beams showing the beammembers of my vertical spacing apparatus which are connected thereto bythe pivotal means of Figures 9 and 10, these beam members being shownswung to clearanceposition.

Figure 12 is a plan view showing the beam plates assembled to supportthe parallel sheaves of the compound pulley standing block unit of thecrown block with rope guards which at the same time function as beamplate stifieners' mounted on the tops thereof and disposed facing thegrooved faces of the sheaves.

Figure 13 is a section taken on line l3--I3 of Figure '12, looking inthe direction of the Figure 15 is a view in end elevation illustratingone form of my novel'beam and bearing struture for supporting thestandard cable-drilling rig sheaves under the practice in which. theends .of the compound pulley hoisting line are led to opposite sides ofthe derrick base.

Figure 16 is a detail, in perspective, of a portion of the structureshown in Figure 15.

Figure 17 is'a. perspective view partially broken away illustrating mynovel compound pulley standing block unit mounted on the top of atypical steel oil well derrick and rove right-handedly in conjunctionwith a traveling block for use where the ends of the compound pulleyhoisting line are led to opposite sides of the derrick base, and showingthe increased head room provided above the level of the tops of thewater table beams of a derrick for the traveling block.

Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating my crown block in positionfor use on a derrick wherein the ends of the compound pulley hoistingline lead to adjacent sides of the derrick base, this figureillustrating one position of the idler fair leader pulley.

Figure 18a is an' enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken onthe line lilo-Illa of Figure 20, and illustrating a clamping structurewhich I preferably utilize to secure an idler fair leader in differentoperative positions.

Figure 19 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 18,looking from the left of Figur(- 19.

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, illustrating thecompound pulley sheave members of my invention rove with four runningparts of the hoisting line for use according to mid-continent practice,that is, the practice wherein the ends of the compound pulley hoistingline are led to opposite sides of the derrick base.

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, illustrating thecompound pulley sheave members shown in Figure 21 rove with six runningparts of the hoisting line.

Figure 23 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, illustrating the'compound pulley sheave members shown in Figure 21 rove with eightrunning parts of the hoisting line.

Figure 24 is a diagrammatic 'view, in perspective, illustrating thecompound pulley sheave members shown in Figure 21 rove with ten runningparts of the hoisting line.

Figure 25 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, illustrating myinvention adapted to left hand rig conditions for mid-continentpractice, wherein the ends of the compound pulley hoisting line lead toopposite sides of the derrick base,

,with four running parts of the hoisting line rove thereto.

my invention for use in California combination rig practice andillustrating the idler fair leader:

pulley adjusted to a different position from that shown in Figure 26,with six running parts of the hoisting line rove thereto, the freed endof the line in this reeving leading to the calf wheel on the beam sideof the derrick base, instead of to the draw works on the forge side ofthe derrick as shown in Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the compound pulleysheaves of my invention for use in California combination rig practicewith four running parts rove, wherein the idler fair leader pulley ispositioned on the same side of the derrick, as in Figure 26, butadjacent a different corner thereof and cooperating with the parallelsheave thereof nearest the calf wheel instead of the parallel sheavethereof farthest therefrom as in Figure 26.

That type of structure wherein the calf wheel and the rotary draw worksare located on opposite sides of the base of the derrick, to wit, on thewalking beam and bull wheel sides thereof, is

generally referred to in the art as mid-continent practice? and willhereinafter be thus referred to. Therefore, this term will be used inconnection with the structure shown and described in Figures 1, 3, 4, 6,7, 8 and 17.

That type of structure wherein the calf wheel and the rotary draw worksare located on adjacent sides of the base of the derrick, to wit, on thewalking beam and forge sides thereof, is generally referred to in theart as California combination rig practice.

This term will be used in connection with Figures 2, 18, 19, and 20.

In the drawings, with particular reference to Figures 1 and 3 to 17,inclusive, I have shown my novel compound pulley standing block unitembodied in a crown block structure mounted upon a typical steel oilwell derrick, supplemented by the calf wheel and rotary draw worksarranged in accordance with the so-called mid-continent practice.

The legs of the derrick may be generally designated 20, the calf wheel2| and the rotary draw works 22. I

The upper ends of the derrick legs are designed to support water-tablebeams 23' and 24 which which may be of usual form.

My novel standing block structure, either with or without the verticalspacing apparatus which I preferably use in combination therewith, isdesigned to be ultimately carried and supported by a pair of water tablebeams such as 23 and 24.

The parallel sheave assembly of my novel compound pulley standing block,together with the supporting beam assembly, per se, in my novel crownblock structure is designed to be elevated into operative positionsubstantially as a unit, and it is preferably mounted upon spaced pairsof transverse beams 25-26 and 21-28, but may be mounted directly on thewater table beams 23 and 24.

The beams 25-26 are preferably slightly spaced apart and securedtogether by end flange plates 29, while the beams 21-28 are likewiseslightly spaced apart and secured together by end flange plates 30, asis best shown in Figure 10 of the drawings.

These pairs of transverse base members 25-26, and 21-28, are adapted tobe mounted upon the water table beams 23 and 24 of a well derrick indifferent definitely spaced relations to each other, dependent upon therelation in which it is desired to assemble the parallel sheave membersof the compound pulley standing block unit of the crown block withrespect to the water table beams of the derrick, i. e., parallel to, orcrosswise to, the water table beams.

These transverse beam members of the vertical spacing apparatus areattached to the water table beams by means of pivoted arms 3|.

Each pivoted arm 3| is provided at one extremity with vertical flanges32 having slots 33 formed horizontally therein for the reception ofbolts 34 which are designed to extend through the two l constitute thehorizontal head of the derrick and webs of each pair of beams, beingheld therein by means of nuts 35, as is best shown in Figure 10.

Each of these arms 3| is provided with pairs of slots extendinglongitudinally thereof, an inner pair 36 and an outer pair 31, as isbest shown in Figure 9. a The slots 36 are adapted for the reception ofupstanding stud bolts 38 threaded for the reception of nuts 39.

These stud bolts 38 are rigidly carried from the upper fiat surfaces '40of barrel members 4| which are joined together by a strip 42 to formone-half of a hinged structure.

The other half of this hinged structure is formed by a barrel 43 havingan upper flat surface 44 and an outer vertical flat surface 45.

threaded portions 500. to pass through the holes 5 |a in the plates 5|,which are slightly larger than the saidunthreaded portion 50a to alloweasy manipulation, and to receive the unthreaded rings 50b which may beriveted or otherwise secured thereon, to form a swiveling connectionwith the plates 5|.

-These bolts 50 may be adjusted tocause the plates 5| to firmly grip thewebs of the water table beams 23 and 24.

The slots 31 of the member 3| are adapted for the reception of bolts 52having their upper ends threaded for the reception of nuts 53, andhaving their lower-ends hook-shaped, as at 54, to embrace fianges of thewater table beams 23 and 24.

The adjustment of the spaced pairs of transverse beams 2526 and 21-28 toor from each other is definitely limited and determined.

The means which I preferably utilize for effecting this limitation ofmovement of said spaced pairs of beams comprises a downwardly extendinglug 55 on the-outermost end ofeach arm 3|, and a set screw, or bolt,56.threaded through this downwardly extending lug for ultimate abutmentwith the flat surface 45 on each member 43 of the hinged structure.

Thus, when this set screw or bolt is once properly set in position oneachof the arms 3|, the adjustment of each of these arms, and,consequently, of each pair of transverse beams, is definitely andaccurately stopped at the desired position.

The operation of this mechanism in the course I of assembling my novelcrown block structure will be explained hereinafter in the descriptionof the assembly thereof on a typical oil well derrick. I have conceivedthat, for several reasons, it is highly desirable that the compoundpulley standing block unit in an oil well derrick crown block be soconstructed and spaced above the water table beams of a derrick as tomake available, at will, for difierent uses a substantial amount ofspace between lower extremities of theformer and the tops of the latter.

For one thing, the inevitable variations which occur in the lengths ofdrill pipe sections render traveling block may be raised to alevelhigher thanthe tops of, the water-table beams in order to accommodatethe longer "stan'ds composed, in practice, with a factor of workingclearance and safety.

The additional head room, so provided, for the operation of thetraveling block will serve to prolong the usefulness of derricks whichwould' otherwise be obsolete and require replacement by the nexttallersize in the series of standardized derricks now prevalent.

For another thing, in the use of rotary well drilling equipment, itfrequently becomes desirable to utilizestandard cable-drilling rigsheaves. To facilitate these operations, I have provided a spacingstructure which has, at least, two important functions:

' For one thing, it spaces the compound pulley standing block unit ofthe crown block a suflicient distance above the water table so as topermit the traveling block to be raised to a position wherein its upperend extremity is above the level of the Figure 17, thereby increasingthe head room available for the operation of the traveling block,

and, consequently, the safe, effective range of operation of the latter.

For another thing, my novel structure permits and facilitates theintroduction and/or removal of the simple pulley standard cable-drillingrig sheaves and the supporting means therefor, im-

mediately beneath thecompound pulley standing block unit of the crownblock; without disassembling any part of the supporting means of thelatter, or without unreeving the parts or plies of the compound pulleyhoisting line therefrom.

It is an important advantage of my novel crown block structure that thecompound pulley sheave and beam assembly, and the idler fair leaderpulley, when the latter is utilized in conjunction with the verticalspacing apparatus which I preferablyprovide therefor, always constitutea complete operative unit, under all conditions-of assembly andoperation; and, that in no case, either of assembly, reeving,oroperation, is the standard cable-drilling rig sheave supportingstructure, or any sheave carried thereby, requisite to the functioningand proper fair leading'of the line parts of the compound pulleyhoisting apparatus and structure for the standard cable-drilling rig;

sheaves, including a sand sheave and a standard cable-drilling drillingline sheave, suspended beneath a compound pulley standing block unit,this featurebeing especially desirable when it is desired to mount thesupporting beams, per se, of a compound pulley standing block unitdirectly on the horizontal head of a well derrick. I The spacing meanswhich I preferably utilize for supporting the compound pulley sheaveassembly of the crown block and supporting structure thereof, asubstantial distance above the water table beams comprises struts -51;two of 'these struts being mounted on each pair of transverse beams 2526and 21-28, and each of which struts 51 is adjustable to and from thelongitudinal center of said beams, for a purpose to be describedhereinafter.

These struts 51 are secured to the pairs of transverse base beams25-'26'and 21-48 by means of slotted lugs-58 formed on their bases, asshown in Figure 3, and bolts 59 having heads disposed between the spacedunits of each pair of transverse base beams, as best shown at 60 inFigure 8.

, It will beseen that these heads are formed to have interfittingrelation with the beveled interior surfaces of the upper flanges ofthese transverse base beams and that the shanks SI, of these bolts,project upwardly between the edges of the flanges of said base beams2528 and 2'|28 and thence upwardly through the slots of the lugs 58 onthe base of each strut.

Nuts 62, adapted to be threaded onto the shanks 6| of the bolts 59 toclamp the struts firmly in position upon these base beams, are provided.

The struts 51 are of somewhat eccentric form,

in the sense that their upper ends are nearer the center line betweenthe spaced pairs of transverse beams 25-46 and 2|28 than their lowerends.

Thus, as shown in Figure 8, the lower edges 64 of these struts arefurther removed from a vertical central plane between these spaced pairsof beams than the upper edges 65 thereof.

This insures that the running parts of the hoisting line extendingdownwardly from the fixed oblique sheave member of the compound pulleysheave assembly of the crown block, to be described, will have adequateclearance and will not foul against the inner edges of the pairs of basebeams of the vertical spacing apparatus.

However, if desired, guarding rollers may be provided to further guardthe parts of the compound pulley hoisting line against fouling thesebeams under all conditions of operation, even though the travelingblockshould be attached to a load eccentric to the well.

The upper ends of the struts 51 are of T-shape construction as shown at66 in Figure 3.

The structure is such that the load imposed upon these struts by thebase beams 10 and II of the compound pulley standing block unit isdistributed thereto over a surface of unusual area.

Furthermore. the T-shape construction of the upper ends of these strutswill permit of the ready assembly of the parallel sheave assembly unitof the compound pulley standing block unit of the crown block in aposition at right angles to the position in which it is shown mounted inFigure 3, where the parallel sheaves are disposed crosswise to the watertable beams, it being understood that the position of these parallelsheave members upon the derrick as shown in Figure 3 represents theposition which I preferably utilize in"Mid- Continent practice; while,for California combination rig practice, the parallel compound pulleysheaves are assembled in a position at right angles to that position. i.e.. with their plane face sides in parallelism with the water tablebeams of the derrick. as shown in Figures 2, 18, 19 and 20.

In this connection, it will be noted that bolt holes 61 are provided sothat this supported structure, to be described, may be readily securedto the struts in either assembly.

The compound pulley standing block unit is preferably constructed withtwo base supporting beams 10 and H which are des gnedeither to besupported directly on the water table beams, or to be bolted by means ofbolts 12 and the nuts 12a to the upper ends of the struts 51, when theyare used with my vertical spacingstructure.

These beams 18 and II are held apart and secured together by means of aplurality of beam spreaders such as is designated by the numeral 13;these beam spreaders, as is shown, being welded at their ends to thebeams 10 and H and additional bracing effect being secured by theprovision of wing plates 14 upon the beam spreaders, which latter arewelded both to the spreader and to the beam.

The beam spreaders 13, although shown without a joint along theirlength, may be provided with one or more flanged joints therealong tofacilitate disassembling into lighter and smaller units for packing forshipment, or for field transportation under difficult circumstancesofttimes obtaining in oil fields. This would not entail the sacrifice ofrigidity.

' The beam spreaders 13 have portions, as at 13a-'|3a, devoid of anglescapable of causing injury to a snubbing rope when same is paid outtherefrom, constituting snubbing post or bitt means for bitting asnubbing rope, and they are further provided with centering lug members'15 which serve to center the bight or vertex of a snubbing ropewhichmay be snubbed or bitted on the portions 13a during the hoisting of theparallel sheave assembly of the compound pulley standing block unit ofthe crown block into operative position on a derrick, in a manner thatwill be more fully described hereinafter.

The structural features of the preferred form of the compound pulleystanding block unit of my crown block further comprise intermediatetransverse beams 16 and H which are spaced apart and secured together attheir lower ends by means of angle irons l8.

' The part of this unit which embodiesthe plurality of parallel sheaves,and which is best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, is so constructedthat ears formed on the ends of the supporting beam plates thereofproject over and are supported by and upon the upper flanges of theseintermediate transverse beams 18 and TI.

This construction produces a more than adequate support for the beamplate assembly shown in Figure 4.

The beam plate assembly shown detached in Figure 4, and incorporated inFigures .3, 6, 8, 12 and 13, comprises a plurality of spaced beam plates[9 which are designed to be spaced apart at their ends by spacer blocks80, best shown in Figures 6 and 8.

The outer beam plates 19 have, welded thereto, channel members 8| havingflanges 82 and 83.

The flanges 83 are cut off adjacent their ends so that these channelmembers may be supplemented by castings 84, as best seen in Figures 12and 13.

These castings 84 are welded to the channel members 8| and are made withan opening at 85, so that ready access may be had to the nuts 86a(Figures 6 and 8) of the bolts 86- for the proper manipulation thereof.

The castings 84 are further provided with apertures 8'! in alignmentwith the apertures 88 in the channel members and these apertures 88 inthe channel members are also in alignment with the apertures 89 in theouter beam plates and the intermediate beam plates which permit theready insertion and removal of the'bolts 86.

The bolts 86 thus serve to hold the beam plates 19v and channels 8|. andthe separator, elements 80 together as a unit, and the castings 84,being welded to the channel members, also form an integral part of thisassembly.

I 2,067,942 rest upon the upper flanges of the intermediate.

transverse beams I6 and 11.

Likewise. the bottom surfaces of the castings 04 rest upon these beamsI6 and I1 and are secured thereto by the bolts 90 and BI as described.

Attached to this structure are a pair of leg members ateither side ofthe assembly of parallel sheave members.

As illustrated in Figure 5,, these legs, which may be designated 92 and93, are supported at their lower ends upon the angle irons I8 and arethrough the apertures 18d in the plate 18a and the apertures in thebracket members 1% which project outwardly from the outer beam platesI9,

as shown in Figure 3.

This construction effectively ties the angles I8 to the mass of theparallel-sheave assembly in a manner to insure that-the load receivedfrom the legs 92 and 93 does not operate to distort these angles Ioutwardly.

These legs 92 and 93 are braced intermediate their length by a crosspiece 96.

At their upper ends, they are tied together by means of channel members91 which are disposed with their 'flanges inwardly turned and which aresecured, preferably by welding, to the inner surfaces of the angleswhich form these legs.

through them. Likewise, the upper flanges of the channel members 91have, superimposed thereon and secured thereto plates I00, which arelikewise apertured for the passage of bolts through them.

Adjacent the upper ends of these legs, 92, and 93, are provided inwardlyextending wing plates I0 I, which are riveted to the legs, and which areadapted to project into the space between the flanges 82 and 83 of thechannel members 8 I.

Adjacent their inner ends these inwardly projecting wing plates IOI areprovided with bolts I02 for connecting them with angle members I03secured to the channel members 8I as at I04. The bolts I02 pass throughvertical slots I in the outstanding legs of the angles I03.

The beam plate assembly which contains and supports the parallelcompound pulley sheave members is'provided with a plurality of ropeguards.

One pair of these rope guards comprise units I06 disposed parallel withthe inner sides of the Webs of the intermediate transverse beams IGandI1 and substantially parallel to the axes of the parallel sheaves andsubstantially in the same horiwhich are adapted to be bolted to the websof the intermediate transverse beams and II, by

means of bolts passing through the apertures I l I of these brackets,these bolts being indicated at II 2 in Figure 3.

The other pair of rope guards I I3, Figures 3 and 8, serve not only asrope guards, but they also serve as beam stifieners for the beam-plates5 19 between which the parallel sheave members are supported. I

Two of these rope guards, which at the same time function as beamstiffeners, are preferably provided and, as shown in Figures 3 and 8,they are mounted upon the tops of the beam plates I9, one on either sideof the axes of the parallel compound pulley sheave members. Each ofthese stiffeners H3 is bolted at its end extremities to the upperflanges 83 of the channel members 8|.

Each of these rope guards I I3, which also function as beam stifieners,is preferably made of cast steel and so formed that its under surface isprovided with alternate rope grooves and slots or sockets.

The rope grooves thereof are designated H4 and are so located that eachrope groove bears a superposed relation to the rope groove of a sheavemember when the guard is functioning as a beam stiffener for the beamplates I9.

The slots II5 which are formed in the lower surfaces of the guards aremilled to embrace and closely fit the tops of the intermediate beamplates between which sheave members are supported.

The outer plates 0f the group I9 abut against milled shoulders II5a onthe guard member.

If desired, tapered bolts may be utilized for securing these rope guardsto the upper flanges 83 of the channel members 0| to secure an accuratespacing for the outer beam plates, with respect to the intermediateplates adjacent to them, and to bind all of the plates I3 together toform an unusually stiff and rigid set of beam plates. 40

The parallel compound pulley sheave members are designated H6 and eachof these sheave members is located between a pair of the beam plates 19.

These sheave members are of comparatively large diameter in that theyextend almost across the space between the edges of the water tablebeams of the derrick.

They are all preferably mounted upon coincident axes, in this instance,by means of a shaft I I! which passes through them and is secured inposition in the plates I9 by means of nuts II8 upon the ends thereof.

Each sheave member H6 is supported from. the shaft I IT by a rollerbearing sleeve H9, as shown in Figure 12.

Each roller bearing sleeve H9 is of slightly greater length than the hubof the sheave which it supports so that the tightening of the nuts IIBon the ends of the shaft I I! may be effected Without causing any pairof beam plates to be brought into binding relation with thesheavebetween them.

Thus these sleeves II9 serve also as spacing and stiffening unitsbetween the plates I9.

C An important element in combination with they plurality of sheavemembers H6 is the obliquely transverse sheave I44 which is, in thepreferred form of this invention, supported above the structure justdescribed.

The base supporting member for this obliquely transverse sheave isdesignated I2I and takes the form of a rectangular plate with a circularopening of substantial size formed therein and pro- 75 vided withadequate reinforcing webs I22 throughout.

This rectangular plate is mounted upon and secured to the plates 98, 99and I00 on the leg structure 92 and 93, by means of bolts I23 and thenuts I24.

Both the-plate .I2I, the legs 92 and 93, and the structure associatedtherewith, are further braced against swaying by the blocks I20 boltedto the upper flanges 83 of the channel members BI and abutting the sidesof the plate I 2| 1 Seated in the circular opening in the rectangularplate I2 I, is a cone structure I25 which isprovided with diametricallyopposite'slots I25a in which the obliquely transverse sheave is adaptedto rotate. 4

This conical supporting member is provided with a flange I26 on its basewhich is also provided with a downwardly extending annular shoulder I21for projecting downwardly into the circular opening in the plate IZI. Inconcentric relation to this shoulder, the base flange of the conicalmember rests on a circular seat I28.

This conical member is normally held in fixed position upon its seat bymeans of bolts I29 which pass through the rectangular plate vI2I frombeneath and which are threaded at their upper ends for the reception ofnuts I30.

However, under certain conditions, it becomees desirable to adjust theangular relation of the oblique sheave to the set of parallel sheavesH6.

In order to facilitate this adjustment, I have provided roller meansupon the conical member which may be rendered operative at the desiredtime. v

This roller means preferably comprises a plurality oflevers I3I whichare fulcrumed in upstanding spaced lugs I32, as at I33, formed on thebase of the conical member, as best seen in Figure 14.

Each of these levers I3I is provided with a bifurcated end I34 in whichis mounted a roller I35. This roller I35 is normally disposed with itslower side within an opening I36 through the flange I26 of the conicalsupporting member.

The other end of each lever I3I is provided with an enlargement I31having a threaded aperture therethrough for the reception of a screwbolt I38 the lower end I39 of which bears upon the upper surface of theflange I26, said lower end I39 being rounded to facilitate" suchmovement thereof as may be necessary during the adjustment of this bolt,thereby preventing the formation of a grooved seat which would interferewith its proper functioning.

In operation of this structure to bring about an adjustment of theconical member I25, the bolts I29 are removed and the bolts I38 aremanipulated so as to cause the rollersv I35 to pass downwardly throughthe openings I36 and to elevate the conical member so that it will besupported upon its seat by these rollers I35.

When this position is attained, the conical member may be rotated to anydesired position of adjustment, lowered by reverse manipulation of thebolts I38, and the bolts I29 again utilized to fix this conical memberin its adjusted position, suitable bolt holes being present in thestructure to facilitate this operation.

The upper end of the conical member I 25 is provided with flanges I 40to which are adapted to be bolted a plurality of semi-circular plates "Ihaving upstanding members I42 which form bearings to support a shaft ortrunnions I43 upon which rotates the obliquely transverse sheave I44.

The intermediate transverse beams I6 and Ill, together with all of theparts which they support, and the legs 92 and 93 which support theoblique sheave member of the compound pulley standing block unit, areadjustable as a unit along the base beams I0 and II by means ofadjusting bolts I45 which are secured to the webs of these intermediatetransverse beams I6 and IT at the four corners of the assembly.

The bolts I45 extend through apertures in fixed bracket. members I46,and adjustment of the assembly is effected by means of nuts I4'I whichengage the sides of the vertical limbs of the brackets I46. Thesebracket members are preferably bolted, as at I48, to the upper flangesof the base beams 10 and 'II.

A means for securing these parts for operation is provided in the formof bolts E49 extending upwardly through the outer, upper flanges of thebase beams Ill and II, which bolts project through slots I 59 in thehorizontal legs of the'angle members I8.

The angle members 94 and 95, to which the legs used in Mid-Continentpractice or in California combination rig practice.

Likewise, in the Mid-('Jontinentv practice, the

means will slightly vary, dependent upon whether or not the verticalspacing means is utilized with the novel compound pulley standing blockunit of my invention.

The structure which I preferably use to support the standardcable-drilling rig sheaves'for Mid- Continent practice is shown best inFigures 3, 4,

7, 8, l5 and 16.

In this form shown in Figures 3, 4, '7, and 8, it will be noted that thestandard cable-drilling rig sheaves are supported by a suspended basketstructure.

Furthermore, in Figures 7 and 8, it will be seen that this basketstructure hangs entirely within the opposing sets of plies which leadfrom the sheave members ofthe crown block to the sheave members of thetraveling block. 7

The basket structure preferably comprises four pairs of strap membersI54, the upper ends of each pair being riveted, as at I55, to opposingsides of one of the plates I9, preferably adjacent the ends of suchplates.

At their lower ends, these pairs of straps are adapted to receivecomplemental straps I 60 attached to beams upon which sheave bearingmeans are supported. t I Where the vertical spacing structure embodyingthe struts 51 is not utilized with the compound pulley standing blockunit, four substitute strap members I56 are used intermediate the upperstraps I54 and the lower straps I60, as best seen in Figure 4, to insurethat the standard cabledrilling rig sheaves will be spaced a sufficlentdistance below the parallel compound pulley sheave members to avoidinterference of the sand line of the standard cable-drilling rig withthe water table. beams of the derrick, particularly the bottom of suchbeams.

These four substitute extension straps I56 are designed to have theirupper ends pass into the space between lower ends of the units of thepairs of strap members I54 and to be bolted thereto as at I51.

' Intermediate their lengths these straps are braced by cross pieces I58which may be bolted thereto.

The lower ends of these substitute extension straps I56 are bifurcated,as at I59, for the reception of supporting straps I60 which interfit theends of such bifurcations and are bolted thereto as at I6I.

These lower, upwardly extending, strap members I60 are inwardly bentadjacent their lower ends and permanently secured to spaced beams I62formed of rolled stock which are designed to receive and support bearingmeans for supporting the means upon which the standard cable-drillingrig sheave members rotate.

As illustrated best in Figure 15, these bearing members I63 areadjustable along the beams I62 and may be securely and rigidly fixed atany desired position therealong so that the standard cable-drilling rigsheaves may be given any selected position with relation to the wellbeing drilled;

In order to produce a structure which, although adjustable, will beamply rigid when once placed in assembled position, the bearings I63 areprovided with grooves I64 which straddle and closely fit the upper edgesof the beams I62.

These bearing members I63 are each provided with an elongated leg memberI65 which extends downwardly between the inner surfaces of the beamsI62, and which are provided upon their lower ends with threaded boltholes I66.

Complemental to these bearings and particularly to the legs I65 thereofis a bottom truss bar I61 which is provided with grooves I68 for thereception of the lower edges of the beams I62, and which is alsoprovided with bolt holes through which project cap screws I69. These capscrews I69 project upwardly and are threaded into the threaded boltholes I66.

The structure is such that tightening of the cap screws I69 will resultin drawing the .bottom truss bar I61 upwardly soas to clamp the beamsI62 between the bearings I63 and this bottom truss bar I 61, this beingeffected, after adjustment, to insure that the bearings I63 will remainin a fixed position upon the beams I62, and that a rigid structure willresult.

The rigidity of this structure is further enhanced by the fact that thebearing members are done piece construction, and that the shafts I63afor the sheave members project through beyond the outer upper sides ofthe bearing members I63 and that the shafts I63a are cut away as at I10to-form 'a seat for the reception of rectangular bars I1 I which aredesigned to besecured in the said seat I10 on the bearing members I63 bymeans of bolts I12.

Thus, the sheave members I13 are maintained in the proper rotatableposition while, at the same trussed both above and below.

time, the shafts and the clamping structures just Beams I62 are furtherprovided with formations I14 which extend for a substantial distancealong their outer surfaces to form lips or flanges which are preferablyintegrally formed therewith.

These lips or flanges I14 project into elongated sockets I15 in thetruss bar I61 which is slid onto them from an end, and serve to preventthe bottom truss bar from dropping away from its associated parts duringthe introduction of the cap screws I69, thus contributing to safety in adrilling rig.

When the standard cable-drilling rig sheave supporting mechanism is tobe used in an assembly in which the beams 10 and 1| are spaced above thewater table beams, as by the use of the struts 51, and their supportingbeams 25-26 and 21-28, the structure shown in Figure 4 is utilizedwithout the substitute straps- I56.

The apparatus is used in this manner in the structure shown in Figure 3.

When assembling the mechanism as shown in Figure 3, these substitutestraps I56 are dispensed with and the members I60 are connected directlyto the units of the pairs of straps I54, being secured thereto by thebolts I51.

To further strengthen this structure, the horizontal bracing bars I58are applied across between the pairs of straps I54, being secured bybolts as at I5'I.

The basket structure which carries the standard cable-drilling rigsheaves is preferably braced against swaying action by means of linksI16 which are provided at their inner ends with eyes that interfitwitheye-bolts I 11, carried by the beams I62 adjacent the ends thereof.

The outer ends of the links I16 may be connected to the derrick legswhen the structure is used with the extension substitute straps I56.

When this structure is used without the straps I56, as in Figure 3, theouter ends of these links I16are connected to the brackets I18 which aresecured to the transverse base beams 26 and 21, and which projectobliquely therefrom.

The method of reeving the line through the various sheaves of thecompound pulley will be described more in detail later.

It will be noted, however, that the two running parts of the line whichextend downwardly from diametrically opposed 'pointson the periphery ofthe oblique sheave I44 are, under certain conditions, in comparativelyclose proximity to the inner flanges of the base beams 21 and 28, and,that if the vertical spacing apparatus be not utilized, these plieswould bear substantially the same relation to beams 10 and H.-

These conditions arise when the traveling block is in the lower portionof its path of movement, particularly when it is attached to a loadeccentric to the well, or otherwise diverted sidewise from its normalposition of vertical concentricity with the Well.

Under these conditions it is desirableto provide a means for preventingthe harmful effect of frictional contact between these'bea-ms and theline.

The means which I preferably utilize comprises a roller I19 which iscarried by a bracket I80 clamped to the lower flange of each of thecross beams 26 and 21.

This bracket I80 preferably comprises a clamping'element I8I which isheld upon the main portion of the bracket by bolts I82. The inner end'of the main portion of the bracket is provided with upwardly turned legsI83 carrying journals for the support of the roller I19 therebetween.

The upper extremities of these legs are joined by I These rollers mayalso be adapted to be mounted and function on the beams 16 and H of thecompound pulley standing block unit when this latter is utilized withouta vertical spacing-means.

The structure just described is such that these rollers may beindividually moved to any desired position along either set of the beamsupon which they are mounted.

Thus, they may be adjusted to bring them into proper position upon theirsupporting beams to protect the plies or parts of rope extendingdownwardly from the oblique sheave I44, regardless of the assemblyutilized.

When my compound pulley structure is applied to derricks operating underthe so-called California combination rig practice, wherein the calfwheel and rotary draw works are located upon adjacent sides of thederrick base, the structureused is substantially the same as that thusfar described.

However, there are certain important exceptions.

One exception arises from the fact that the novel compound pulleystanding block and its supporting structure per se, embodying the beams18 and H as its base beams, and everything carried thereby is assembledin a position at an'angle of 90 degrees from the position shown inFigures 7 1, 3, 6,7, 8 and 17.

In this position, these base beams are in parallelism withthe watertable beams 23 and .28, instead of being at right angles thereto as theyare in Mid-Continent practice.

They are shown assembled in this position in Figures 2, 18, 19 and 20.Likewise, the traveling block is suspended in a position at right anglesto the position in which it hangs in Mid-Continent practice.

By comparing Figure 20 of the drawings, which is a view in sideelevation of the assembly for California combination rig practice, withFigure 7, which is a view in side elevation of the assembly forMid-Continent practice, it will be seen that in the different assembliesthe struts 51 and the base beams 25-26 and 21-28, are differentlydisposed with respect to the longitudinal centers of the beams uponwhich they are respectively supported.

In the assembly shown in Figure 7, the struts 51 are disposed so thattheir bottom flanges overlap the vertical planes of the water tablebeams 23 and 24 of the derrick, which.results in each the longitudinalcenters of the water table beams which support them is,in the assemblyfor Mid- Continent" practice governed by the width of the base of thecompound pulley standing block structural unit, or, in other words, thedistance from vertical center to vertical center of the beams 10 and 11.

In the assembly shown in Figure 20, the width of the base of thecompound pulley standing block structural unit governs, not therelationof the pairs of beams 25-26 and 21-28 with respect to thelongitudinal centers of the water table beams 23 and 24 of the derrick;but, the relation of the individual struts with respect to thelongitudinal centers of the base beams 25-26 and 21-28 which support thepairs of them.

Consequently, in this assembly, the struts 51 are relatively closer tothe longitudinal centers of the beams 25-26 and 21-28; relatively closerto each other taken along the length of said beams; have a relativelyless'over-all width of I I their upper flanges taken togethertherealong;

- rick top, and when so disposed the'outer lines thereof and the outerlines of the water table beams 23 and 24 of the derrick form the sidesof a substantially .equi-lateral rectangle, as in Figure 19.

In practice, for a Mid-Continent" assembly, these base beams 25-26 and21-28 of the vertical spacing apparatus are appreciably closer to g thelongitudinal centers of the water table beams 23 and 24 of the derrickthan in the California combination rig assembly, as will be noted byreference to Figure 6, wherein the outer lines of these base beams 25-26and 21-28 form the long sides of an oblong, and wherein the outer linesof the water table beams of the derrick form the short sides or ends ofthe said oblong.

In order to provide for these different assemblies, as well as toproduce a structure of less weight than would otherwise be necessary,the structure and securing means which I provide in and for thesestruts-51 is such that they are adapted to each be assembled inrelatively different positions with respect to the longitudinal centersof the base beams 25-26 and 21-28 which support them, whereby thedistance between the units of the pairs of them, taken along the lengthof the said base beams, may be varied to conform to the corners of theoblong base of the compound pulley standing block unit which theysupport, whether the said oblong base be assembled with 'its long sidesparallel to the base beams 25-26 and 21-28 or crosswise to'them.

Likewise, the structure and attaching means which I provide in and forthe pairs of base beams 25-26 and 21-28 are such that each pair of themis adapted to be assembled in relatively different positions withrespect to the longitudinal centers of the water table beams whichsupport them, whereby they may be positioned so that the width of themtaken together as a'base structure may be varied to conformsubstantially to either the length of or the width of the oblong base ofthe standing block unit, the means provided being, in this instance, thepivoted slidable arms 3|, the hook bolts 52 and the set screws 56.

In providing for the California combination rig assembly I have found itdesirable to supplement my compound pulley standing block sheaveassembly by means of a fair leader idler pulley I86 which may be mountedon a pair of the transverse base beams 25-26, or 21-28, of the verticalspacing apparatus.

This idler pulley for fair leading I86 is, as is shown in the drawings,rotatably mounted upon a bearing block J81 which is adjustably securedto a pair of the transverse base beams, in this case, 25-26, andadjustable along the length thereof so that it may be set properly tofair lead from any one of the parallel "sheaves H6 to con-

